Page 141 - Cornelius Hedges Story

For This And Succeeding Generations Gardiner 128

In 1905, N. P. Langford pointed out one unique ability which
Hedges possessed. In a rather lengthy letter to Judge Hedges, he
compared their respective journals of the Yellowstone Expedition of
1870.412 Langford made this observation:

“Your comparatively brief notes made on any one day in your
diary, enabled you to recall, vividly, the full impressions received
at the time, and to record them as you did in your fine letters
published in the Helena Herald from time to time after our return.
The foundation of one of your long letters is found in a single page
of your diary, and from the brief entries, you summon before you
all the grand scene as if you were again really in its presence.”

He went on to relate that he had to write down thoughts in full,
on the spot, if he intended to publish it later or he would otherwise
forget. Then he added further:

“You, being able to recall the scene, with the aid of your brief
notes, can give a far better description of the falls than can I with
my fuller journal. My diary for Aug. 31st, the day we spent at the
falls, covers 2000 words; yours, less than 200.”413

There are many passages from Judge Hedges’ writings which
could be used to illustrate his very fine style of expression. However,
three have been selected as examples. The first selection is from
a discussion of mining camp society in the earliest territorial days
and undoubtedly much of the matter is written from his own early
experiences in Montana:

“Unlike other states settled before or after the Civil War, the
war-times during which Montana was settled brought together
some of the worst elements of both warring sections of the
country, deserters from both camps, seeking a cover in the
wilderness beyond the reach of the civil or military arm of
government, “here they could shoot off their mouths or guns
with comparative impunity. It would be a rank injustice to
assert that a majority or a large portion of the early settlers
of Montana were desperadoes, seeking a field for unrestricted
crime. Rumors of discovery of rich and extensive gold mines
at any time, in any part of the world, will attract the attention
of the adventurous persons whose visions of great wealth to
be suddenly acquired, only gain increased attractiveness by
reason of distance and intervening difficulties and hardships.
Such were the rumors from the gold discoveries at Bannack.”414